Will KC Move Top Pick?

Nick Athan

04/21/2010

With the NFL Draft set to begin Thursday night in Prime Time, the Kansas City Chiefs led by GM Scott Pioli, could be at the epicenter of the first round. But what does he do with the 5th overall pick? Should he listen to his new offensive or defensive coordinators or will he ignore them and do what he did a year ago when he reached for Tyson Jackson.

But last year is behind us and there is no doubt that the Kansas City Chiefs are in the catbird seat in the first round. As our very own Michael Ash has dissected numerous scenarios in his three part series, featured on our front page the last few weeks, the Chiefs could select a handful of guys that could re-shape the fortunes of the roster for a decade.

So what is Scott Pioli going to do this year?

Last year he went against the grain and chose LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson with the third overall pick. Most NFL scouts and experts had Jackson slated for the middle stages of the first round. But Pioli wanted him and passed on Wake Forest Linebacker Aaron Curry and turned down a rich offer from the Detroit Lions that would have netted the Chiefs three extra picks a year ago.

This year he has some friends to help him out and that should steady any nerves he may have had last year at this time. In the off season he hired Romeo Crennel to run the defense and Charlie Weis to bring the offense to new heights of success. Each has a strong say in the direction of the players that they are in charge with and for good reason. Each has multiple Super Bowl rings and both were paid mega-bucks to join the Chiefs.

But they also have differing opinions as to what player they'd like to add to their respective offenses and defenses come Thursday Night when the Chiefs are on the clock.

In one corner, you have Crennel who is charged with trying to mold a 3-4 scheme that doesn't fit the current personnel. He has the under-achieving Jackson at one defensive end position, another former first round pick Glenn Dorsey who doesn't have the experience to be a dominating pass rusher and a journeyman nose tackle in Ron Edwards who actually was the biggest surprise of the line last season.

Edwards is steady but he's a back up and not a starter for the Chiefs front three. The Chiefs top pass rusher a year ago Tamba Hali is a converted linebacker. Second year defensive end Alex Magee has great promise and could supplant Dorsey this year as the starter.

But the hole of this defense rests in the middle of the line. Crennel is hoping that the four teams drafting ahead of the Chiefs somehow bypass Nebraska defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh.

On Tuesday afternoon, Warpaint Illustrated spoke with a member of Suh's entourage and he's not heard from any of the top teams thus far as he made his way through the New York Media circuit.

The St. Louis Rams have the top overall selection but it's doubtful they're going to pay Oklahoma Quarterback Sam Bradford the $80 million price tag he's going to command. The Detroit Lions select second and they'd love to get Suh and no man would be happier to see that happen than former Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who is now in charge of the Lions defense.

So the chances that Suh actually falls to the Chiefs like Dorsey did two years ago, seems slim to none. But if he does, our source confirmed that Suh is the ONLY player the Chiefs currwently consider worthy of the fifth overall pick.

On the other side of the ball, Weis has made it known he's not confident that last years starting quarterback, Matt Cassel, is the real deal. He wants to hedge his bets by adding another quarterback to the mix. He has been quietly, and more firmly over the last few weeks, pushing Pioli towards drafting Notre Dame Quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

Weis recruited the strong armed and fiery quarterback to the Irish four years ago. Though it's a reach that the Chiefs would even consider the move, there is no doubt that Weis would love to reunite himself with the former Golden Domer.

However, for my money, all the talk about Clausen could be nothing but a ploy to gain leverage with a team that really covets the young quarterback. I call that good business.

Still there have been plenty of rumblings that Weis isn't a fan of Cassel and when you add this issue into the $63 million man, the Chiefs could buy out the remainder of his contract for the tidy and low sum of $8 million. Again we don't see this happening.

But the final say as to the player the Chiefs will draft Thursday Night falls in the hands of Pioli. And our source maintains that Pioli wants to trade out of the fifth spot even if both of the top offensive tackles, Russell Okung from Oklahoma State or Trent Williams from Oklahoma are still on the board.

Pioli realizes that this football team needs bodies if it's going to compete in the suddenly vulnerable AFC West. The shortest distance to the playoffs is winning the division and eight or nine games might get it done in 2010.

And with this draft so deep at positions of need for the Chiefs, outside of a dominating pass rushing defensive end, the Chiefs could shore up some major holes along both front lines, at linebacker, wide receiver and safety by jumping out of the fifth spot.

In fact, Pioli could drop twice in round one and pick up as many as five or six future draft picks that would go a long way toward revamping his football team. That's the way he did it in New England and that's likely what you will see beginning Thursday night.

So what will he do?

If I were a betting man, unless Suh falls to the fifth spot, look for the Chiefs to trade their first round pick to either the Philadelphia Eagles in what could net them four selections in 2010 or to the Buffalo Bills that could add at least two or three additional picks this weekend.

Either way Pioli could be the talk of the first round. If that's the case, then the Chiefs probably made all the right moves.

If not, then we fans could be in for more of the same that we saw a year ago. And that won't be good news for the unveiling of the New Arrowhead which debuts nationally on Monday Night Football to open the 2010 regular season.

\r\nBut last year is behind us and there is no doubt that the Kansas City Chiefs are in the catbird seat in the first round. As our very own Michael Ash has dissected numerous scenarios in his three part series, featured on our front page the last few weeks, the Chiefs could select a handful of guys that could re-shape the fortunes of the roster for a decade.\r\n\r\n

So what is Scott Pioli going to do this year? \r\n\r\n

Last year he went against the grain and chose LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson with the third overall pick. Most NFL scouts and experts had Jackson slated for the middle stages of the first round. But Pioli wanted him and passed on Wake Forest Linebacker Aaron Curry and turned down a rich offer from the Detroit Lions that would have netted the Chiefs three extra picks a year ago.\r\n\r\n

This year he has some friends to help him out and that should steady any nerves he may have had last year at this time. In the off season he hired Romeo Crennel to run the defense and Charlie Weis to bring the offense to new heights of success. Each has a strong say in the direction of the players that they are in charge with and for good reason. Each has multiple Super Bowl rings and both were paid mega-bucks to join the Chiefs. \r\n\r\n

But they also have differing opinions as to what player they'd like to add to their respective offenses and defenses come Thursday Night when the Chiefs are on the clock.\r\n\r\n

In one corner, you have Crennel who is charged with trying to mold a 3-4 scheme that doesn't fit the current personnel. He has the under-achieving Jackson at one defensive end position, another former first round pick Glenn Dorsey who doesn't have the experience to be a dominating pass rusher and a journeyman nose tackle in Ron Edwards who actually was the biggest surprise of the line last season.\r\n\r\n

Edwards is steady but he's a back up and not a starter for the Chiefs front three. The Chiefs top pass rusher a year ago Tamba Hali is a converted linebacker. Second year defensive end Alex Magee has great promise and could supplant Dorsey this year as the starter.\r\n\r\n

But the hole of this defense rests in the middle of the line. Crennel is hoping that the four teams drafting ahead of the Chiefs somehow bypass Nebraska defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh. \r\n\r\n

On Tuesday afternoon, Warpaint Illustrated spoke with a member of Suh's entourage and he's not heard from any of the top teams thus far as he made his way through the New York Media circuit.\r\n\r\n

The St. Louis Rams have the top overall selection but it's doubtful they're going to pay Oklahoma Quarterback Sam Bradford the $80 million price tag he's going to command. The Detroit Lions select second and they'd love to get Suh and no man would be happier to see that happen than former Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who is now in charge of the Lions defense.\r\n\r\n

So the chances that Suh actually falls to the Chiefs like Dorsey did two years ago, seems slim to none. But if he does, our source confirmed that Suh is the ONLY player the Chiefs currwently consider worthy of the fifth overall pick.\r\n\r\n

On the other side of the ball, Weis has made it known he's not confident that last years starting quarterback, Matt Cassel, is the real deal. He wants to hedge his bets by adding another quarterback to the mix. He has been quietly, and more firmly over the last few weeks, pushing Pioli towards drafting Notre Dame Quarterback Jimmy Clausen.\r\n\r\n

Weis recruited the strong armed and fiery quarterback to the Irish four years ago. Though it's a reach that the Chiefs would even consider the move, there is no doubt that Weis would love to reunite himself with the former Golden Domer.\r\n\r\n

However, for my money, all the talk about Clausen could be nothing but a ploy to gain leverage with a team that really covets the young quarterback. I call that good business.\r\n\r\n

Still there have been plenty of rumblings that Weis isn't a fan of Cassel and when you add this issue into the $63 million man, the Chiefs could buy out the remainder of his contract for the tidy and low sum of $8 million. Again we don't see this happening. \r\n\r\n

But the final say as to the player the Chiefs will draft Thursday Night falls in the hands of Pioli. And our source maintains that Pioli wants to trade out of the fifth spot even if both of the top offensive tackles, Russell Okung from Oklahoma State or Trent Williams from Oklahoma are still on the board. \r\n\r\n

Pioli realizes that this football team needs bodies if it's going to compete in the suddenly vulnerable AFC West. The shortest distance to the playoffs is winning the division and eight or nine games might get it done in 2010.\r\n\r\n

And with this draft so deep at positions of need for the Chiefs, outside of a dominating pass rushing defensive end, the Chiefs could shore up some major holes along both front lines, at linebacker, wide receiver and safety by jumping out of the fifth spot. \r\n\r\n

In fact, Pioli could drop twice in round one and pick up as many as five or six future draft picks that would go a long way toward revamping his football team. That's the way he did it in New England and that's likely what you will see beginning Thursday night.\r\n\r\n

So what will he do? \r\n\r\n

If I were a betting man, unless Suh falls to the fifth spot, look for the Chiefs to trade their first round pick to either the Philadelphia Eagles in what could net them four selections in 2010 or to the Buffalo Bills that could add at least two or three additional picks this weekend.\r\n\r\n

Either way Pioli could be the talk of the first round. If that's the case, then the Chiefs probably made all the right moves. \r\n\r\n

If not, then we fans could be in for more of the same that we saw a year ago. And that won't be good news for the unveiling of the New Arrowhead which debuts nationally on Monday Night Football to open the 2010 regular season. \r\n","mobileBody":" But last year is behind us and there is no doubt that the Kansas City Chiefs are in the catbird seat in the first round. As our very own Michael Ash has dissected numerous scenarios in his three part series, featured on our front page the last few weeks, the Chiefs could select a handful of guys that could re-shape the fortunes of the roster for a decade.

So what is Scott Pioli going to do this year?

Last year he went against the grain and chose LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson with the third overall pick. Most NFL scouts and experts had Jackson slated for the middle stages of the first round. But Pioli wanted him and passed on Wake Forest Linebacker Aaron Curry and turned down a rich offer from the Detroit Lions that would have netted the Chiefs three extra picks a year ago.

This year he has some friends to help him out and that should steady any nerves he may have had last year at this time. In the off season he hired Romeo Crennel to run the defense and Charlie Weis to bring the offense to new heights of success. Each has a strong say in the direction of the players that they are in charge with and for good reason. Each has multiple Super Bowl rings and both were paid mega-bucks to join the Chiefs.

But they also have differing opinions as to what player they'd like to add to their respective offenses and defenses come Thursday Night when the Chiefs are on the clock.

In one corner, you have Crennel who is charged with trying to mold a 3-4 scheme that doesn't fit the current personnel. He has the under-achieving Jackson at one defensive end position, another former first round pick Glenn Dorsey who doesn't have the experience to be a dominating pass rusher and a journeyman nose tackle in Ron Edwards who actually was the biggest surprise of the line last season.

Edwards is steady but he's a back up and not a starter for the Chiefs front three. The Chiefs top pass rusher a year ago Tamba Hali is a converted linebacker. Second year defensive end Alex Magee has great promise and could supplant Dorsey this year as the starter.

But the hole of this defense rests in the middle of the line. Crennel is hoping that the four teams drafting ahead of the Chiefs somehow bypass Nebraska defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh.

On Tuesday afternoon, Warpaint Illustrated spoke with a member of Suh's entourage and he's not heard from any of the top teams thus far as he made his way through the New York Media circuit.

The St. Louis Rams have the top overall selection but it's doubtful they're going to pay Oklahoma Quarterback Sam Bradford the $80 million price tag he's going to command. The Detroit Lions select second and they'd love to get Suh and no man would be happier to see that happen than former Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who is now in charge of the Lions defense.

So the chances that Suh actually falls to the Chiefs like Dorsey did two years ago, seems slim to none. But if he does, our source confirmed that Suh is the ONLY player the Chiefs currwently consider worthy of the fifth overall pick.

On the other side of the ball, Weis has made it known he's not confident that last years starting quarterback, Matt Cassel, is the real deal. He wants to hedge his bets by adding another quarterback to the mix. He has been quietly, and more firmly over the last few weeks, pushing Pioli towards drafting Notre Dame Quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

Weis recruited the strong armed and fiery quarterback to the Irish four years ago. Though it's a reach that the Chiefs would even consider the move, there is no doubt that Weis would love to reunite himself with the former Golden Domer.

However, for my money, all the talk about Clausen could be nothing but a ploy to gain leverage with a team that really covets the young quarterback. I call that good business.

Still there have been plenty of rumblings that Weis isn't a fan of Cassel and when you add this issue into the $63 million man, the Chiefs could buy out the remainder of his contract for the tidy and low sum of $8 million. Again we don't see this happening.

But the final say as to the player the Chiefs will draft Thursday Night falls in the hands of Pioli. And our source maintains that Pioli wants to trade out of the fifth spot even if both of the top offensive tackles, Russell Okung from Oklahoma State or Trent Williams from Oklahoma are still on the board.

Pioli realizes that this football team needs bodies if it's going to compete in the suddenly vulnerable AFC West. The shortest distance to the playoffs is winning the division and eight or nine games might get it done in 2010.

And with this draft so deep at positions of need for the Chiefs, outside of a dominating pass rushing defensive end, the Chiefs could shore up some major holes along both front lines, at linebacker, wide receiver and safety by jumping out of the fifth spot.

In fact, Pioli could drop twice in round one and pick up as many as five or six future draft picks that would go a long way toward revamping his football team. That's the way he did it in New England and that's likely what you will see beginning Thursday night.

So what will he do?

If I were a betting man, unless Suh falls to the fifth spot, look for the Chiefs to trade their first round pick to either the Philadelphia Eagles in what could net them four selections in 2010 or to the Buffalo Bills that could add at least two or three additional picks this weekend.

Either way Pioli could be the talk of the first round. If that's the case, then the Chiefs probably made all the right moves.